Hydrangea plant named ‘HORE0031’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘HORE0031’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit with strong and sturdy stems; freely and uniformly flowering habit; mophead-type inflorescences with numerous light red purple-colored sterile flowers that become darker red purple with development; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HORE0031’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla,commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘HORE0031’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Velp and Reeuwijk, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program was to create new compact andfreely-branching Hydrangea plants with strong sturdy stems, largeinflorescences with numerous attractive sterile flowers and goodpostproduction longevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in July, 2011 in Velp, The Netherlands, of a proprietaryselection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 12-00-04,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 12-00-73,not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands in June, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tipcuttings in a controlled environment in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands sinceAugust, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangeaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘HORE0031’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘HORE0031’ as a new and distinct Hydrangeaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate        growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit with strong and sturdy stems.    -   4. Freely and uniformly flowering habit.    -   5. Mophead-type inflorescences with numerous light red        purple-colored sterile flowers that become darker red purple        with development.    -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have darker green-colored leaves        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have lighter red purple-colored        sterile flower sepals than plants of the female parent        selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely flowering than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Sterile flower sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are        light red purple in color whereas sterile flower sepals of the        male parent selection are white in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘Hopaline’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Hopaline’in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have stronger stems than plants        of ‘Hopaline’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Hydrangea are darker green in        color than leaves of plants of ‘Hopaline’.    -   3. Sterile flower sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are        darker red purple in color than sterile flower sepals of plants        of ‘Hopaline’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘HORE0031’ during an early stage ofdevelopment.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical developing inflorescence of ‘HORE0031’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical leaf of ‘HORE0031’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘HORE0031’ at a stage of full development.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdescription were grown during the summer in 13-cm containers in aglass-covered greenhouse in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 20° C. to35° C. and night temperatures ranged from about averaged 12° C. to 22°C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were two years old when the photographsand description were taken. Plants of the new Hydrangea are typicallynot treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘HORE0031’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla identified as code number 12-00-04, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla identified as code number 12-00-73, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at            temperatures about 20° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            months at temperatures about 20° C. to 30° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent            on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and rounded plant            habit; overall plant shape, broadly obovate; strong and            sturdy stems; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit            and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 29.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 44.6 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; when pinched, about            eleven lateral branches develop per plant.        -   Length.—About 14.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.8 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.        -   Aspect.—Upright to about 60° from vertical.        -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.        -   Color.—When developing: Close to 145A. Developed: Close to            143A; when woody, close to 199C and 200A.        -   Lenticels.—Density: Medium. Size: About 1 mm by 0.75 mm.            Color: Close to N186C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 10.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 8.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Truncate to cordate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth to slightly            rugose, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker than 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between 144A and            146B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Darker than            between 139A and 147A; venation, close to 145A. Fully            developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,            close to 145A to 145B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to            4 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and small            inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on mophead-type            terminal panicles; panicles rounded and flattened globular            in shape; flowers face upright to outwardly depending on            their position in the inflorescence.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants            begin flowering about three months after planting; flowering            begins in the late spring and is continuous until late            summer in Northern Europe.        -   Flower longevity.—Fertile flowers last about five days on            the plant, fertile flowers not persistent; sterile flowers            last about six weeks on the plant, sterile flowers            persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 35            fertile flowers per panicle and about 130 sterile flowers            per panicle.        -   Panicle height.—About 10.6 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—About 15.4 cm.        -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About            4 mm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Color: Close to between 150D            and 155A towards the base fading to close to N144D and at            the base, close to 143A.        -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About            6 mm. Shape: Cup-shaped. Color: Close to 145D.        -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 6 mm.        -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 3.9 cm.        -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1.6 cm.        -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a            single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 1.75 mm.            Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to NN155D. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to NN155D.        -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a            single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 1.75 mm.            Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to NN155D. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to NN155D.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a            single whorl. Length: About 2.5 mm. Width: About 2 mm.            Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Broadly cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 143B fading towards the base to            close to N144D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 143A            fading towards the base to close to N144D. Fully opened,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A fading towards the            base to close to 145C.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four or            occasionally five in a single whorl. Length: About 2.1 cm.            Width: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to roughly            deltoid. Apex: Broadly acutely obtuse. Base: Broadly            cuneate. Margin: Entire, occasionally with one or two small            teeth. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to NN155C fading towards the apex to close to 145D, 150D and            lighter than 150D; base tinged with close to 65B to 65C.            When opening, lower surface: Close to between 69D and NN155C            fading towards the apex to close to 145D, 150D and lighter            than 150D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            NN155A to NN155B fading towards the apex to close to 145B;            base, strongly tinged with close to 65A to 65C; color            becoming predominantly more red purple with development.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:            About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 10°            from vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent;            matte. Color: Close to 145D.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter:            About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45°            from branch axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte.            Color: Close to 157D.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: About ten. Filament length: About 1.5 mm. Filament            color: Close to NN155C. Anther length: About 0.75 mm. Anther            shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155C. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils:            Pistil quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About            1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to            157D. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to            145D. Ovary color: Close to 145D.        -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: About ten. Filament length: About 1.5 mm. Filament            color: Close to NN155C. Anther length: About 0.75 mm. Anther            shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155C. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils:            Pistil quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About            1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to            157D. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to            145D. Ovary color: Close to 145D.        -   Seeds.—To date, seed production has not been observed on            plants of the new Hydrangea.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, under commercial production    conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be    resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown    to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘HORE0031’ asillustrated and described.